4 comments about The Complete Equine Veterinary Manual.

1. To me this book covered all aspects of the equine in an easily understood format; the pictures were informative; the written word simple.



2. I really liked the first 2 sections, Keeping your horse healthy and the Anatomical Index of Diseases. I wish the A-z sections describing different disease was a little more in-depth. Its a little more general than I wanted but still a very very knowledgable book.



3. This book is very detailed with diseases, illnesses, cut, fractures, snake bites and more. I like to take care of my horse when I can and not take her to the vet except after she foals. I like to give the shots and do what I can. This book is very detailed and very helpful.



4. This is a great book. Its packed with information to help you with basic horse care and to identify and treat numerous injuries and ailments. It has lots of pictures color pictures and it organizes the information in an easy to read format. I would recommend it.

5 comments about Dancing with Your Dark Horse: How Horse Sense Helps Us Find Balance, Strength and Wisdom.

1. I loved some of the insights and it's worth reading. However, I thought the Author could have been more focused on the overall picture and less focused on himself toward some of the later chapters.



2. Chris is open but he tries unsuccessfully to convince the reader that he was humbled and knocked off his high horse during a session with Stella the horse. Seems to me that he wants to believe he has become altruistic and has written a book to try and convince himself.
   
   To his credit he has come a long way in life and conquered many demons. But, many irrelevant photos and self praise show that his ego is huge, and insecurities large.
   
   Sadly, I suspect this book was an insincere effort to try and save face in the business arena. It is highly likely that Chris will have another greater fall and the resultant book will reach sincerity.



3. Interesting ideas linked with inisghts into Chris Irwins personal life, trials & tribulations. Very readable.



4. Chris Irwin wrote this book after beating a mare named Stella at a demonstration. He'd been working hard and shouldn't have accepted the invitation that day; he had been pushing himself too hard. The manager of the event set him up by sending three mares that didn't pasture together into the arena, and a fight broke out between the horses. Chris fueled the fire by reacting to the situation and beating Stella after getting the other two mares out of the ring. He nearly ruined his career as a result. And this book of excuses is his attempt at finding a silver lining in that situation.
   
   If you want to hear about how Chris' life has unravelled... how a young man his age has been married four times in his attempts to overcome his dysfunctional childhood, then this story may peak your interest.
   
   If you want to see a picture of Chris skiing, and a photo of Chris teaching his son to ride a bike, and a photo of Chris playing guitar and singing at a wedding, and a photo of Chris in his cowboy cocaine days in the 80's, and a photo of Chris when he was 15 on the rowing team in high school and won the championship -- then this is the dark horse book for you.
   
   Every photo is "Chris this" or "Chris that" -- and most of the photos don't relate to the text. It felt egotistically motivated, and I began to realize that Chris' dark horse is his insecurity -- and he hasn't conquered it yet.
   
   I'm very interested in learning about the spiritual connection between humans and horses; but this wasn't the book for me.
   
   I respect everything that Chris Irwin has accomplished in his career, but he needs to forgive himself and stop making excuses, before he can stop dancing with his dark horse.



5. Well known clinician, Chris Irwin, met his match in Stella, a dark mare who refused to play games. She challenged Chris, forced him to decide what was most important to him, and then Chris, in the form of this book, shares his lessons with us.
   
   Unlike most of the other books I've read, Mr. Irwin calls it as he sees it. He doesn't sugar coat the truth, that "natural horsemanship" is an oxymornon (there's nothing natural about putting saddle and bridle on the horse and forcing it to go counter to its natural instincts which tell it to flee), that somebody has to be the better horse, the boss, and that horses provide a mirror for our thoughts and fears. He provides food for the brain, stuff to think about, and in sharing his story, he brings the knowledge he's gained to others.
   
   I found this book to be very thought-provoking. I find myself thinking about my relationship with my horse in a completely different light. Could it be my inner fears (of falling off, getting hurt again) are mirrored in her flighty nature? Perhaps by facing my own shadow self, my dark horse, that it will help our relationship? Mr. Irwin, through his prose, seems to think so.
   
   I recommend this book for anyone seriously pursuing a relationship with their horse. From backyard ponies to professional trainers and riders, anyone can benefit from the information in this horse. And if you don't even own a horse, but am looking for a little soul searching, I'm going to recommend this book too. It is an amazing piece of work, and I am looking forward to reading Mr. Irwin's other titles.

5 comments about Western Practice Lessons (Horse-Wise Guide): Ride Like a Champion, Train in a Progressive Plan, Improve Communication with Your Horse, Refine Your Performance (Horse-Wise Guide.).

1. I tend to not be very creative and this book really helps with giving many ideas for practical lessons that improve both horse and rider. There are enough quality lessons for months of practice. Well written and organized.



2. This book is well presented and the pictures are great. Detailed and well written with understandable instructions. A great book to have.



3. This is a great book if you are taking lessons from an instructor and you want additional things to practice. Beginners may not find it as helpful as they were hoping.



4. This book was very informative and gives me the proper mindset to bring to the barn for my horse to learn one step at a time. A great reference book and guide.



5. This book is well written for the layperson with excellent diagrams, and was shipped promptly as promised.

No comments about Equine Angels: Stories of Rescue, Love, and Hope.

5 comments about Riding into Your Mythic Life: Transformational Adventures with the Horse.

1. This book was interesting . I just felt it got a little to unatached in the mythic life areas. Great to have some ideas for session time. This book took helping people to a different level. The sharing of the different tribes beliefs was fascinating. A lot of Mythology history shared from a new perspective.If you want a book grounded in reality for EAP work this is probably not what you are looking for, but if you are looking to make your EAP program more creative this book has that. The title is what this book is all about.



2. Horses are here defined as mythic creatures, and RIDING INTO YOUR MYTHIC LIFE comes from a therapeutic riding instructor who has developed her theories in over twenty years of working with horses and children with special needs, developing horse camps for teens and adults alike. RIDING INTO YOUR MYTHIC LIFE is for horse enthusiasts and therapists alike, and will appeal to any collection strong in new age theory or equestrian interests.



3. The author of Riding into Your Mythic Life, Patricia Broersma, is a therapeutic riding instructor who founded Saddle Light Center. She is also an instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped and president of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association. In her work, this author has seen the healing connection that can occur between horse and human being. It's truly a magical transformation, not unlike that of the hero and his allies in Joseph Campbell's Journey of the Hero.
   
   Riding into Your Mythic Life is an interesting work. The book is part philosophy, part self help, and part horse training guide. The author equates the bonding between a person and their horse in terms of a journey of self-knowledge. The resulting connection further serves to facilitate deep healing within both individuals.
   
   The text itself is filled with touching stories showing the potential of such equine-human relationships. Chapters are organized by topic with each subject building upon the knowledge attained in the previous section. Each of these sections includes practical exercises that serve as a guide to the reader's own hero's quest and the strengthening of the connection between them and their ally.



4. I've always felt a deep connection with horses, even during the times in my life when none lived with me. 'Riding into Your Mythic Life' takes its readers on a hero's journey to explore that connection. I love the blend of myth, science, poetry and personal stories. It seems that if you open your heart and let in the message that Broersma and the horses have to share, it could truly change your life. I keep this book on the kitchen table and read it with my morning coffee. I am finding that I go back to it and reread chapters after working with my horses.



5. I would recommend this new book by Patricia Broersma to anyone who has an appreciation for horses and a desire to befriend themselves at a deeper level.
   If, in addition, you happen to own or have access to a horse, this therapeudic riding instructor can lead you into a profoundly deep relationship, heightening your sensitivity to your horse and teaching you new ways to communicate and learn from each interaction. Reading this book, I felt I was being gently guided on an experiential journey through my own life, discovering it from a much larger perspective and learning how to appreciate the magic and wonder of it. With Broersma's guidance, I found it easy and very empowering to see the events of my life in the framework of a personal mythic journey, as the great adventure it is. What a gift!

5 comments about Lyons on Horses.

1. I loved this book, I bought 2 of them in fact (one for a friend) because I was so impressed with it. John Lyons's teaching is based on the fact that the horse is a condition response animal and that you set up the condition to get the response you want out of your horse. He also likes to think of it as "playing games" with the horse and not just "training" it must be fun for you and the horse and if its not, YOU are doing something wrong-not the horse. I highly reccomend this book!



2. Informative step-by-step instructions for everyone, from a novice working with their first horse, to the experienced horseman. Makes problem solving easy in a sensible manner.



3. This book is very informative. Easy to read and very easy to understand. The author does a good job of explaining training techniques.



4. Everything happened as promised: A very nice (appearing unused) book arrived within a few days of ordering. Perfect!



5. You wouldn't want this book if you need visuals. There are very few pictures to help in understanding how to go about a lesson. I think John Lyons would rather you buy his videos. This book doesn't help unless you have the videos. Only buy this book if you have a round pen and you don't need visual help in getting the idea. I felt it was a waste of money.

5 comments about Straightening the Crooked Horse.

1. Way too intense for me to read straight through. Reading the book only convinced me that IF I thought I had a crooked horse, I'd have to find local professional help that I could afford. A little intimidating if you don't have the funds to ship a horse around.



2. After thousands of dollors spent on vets my horse still wasn't sound and there was no idea why after reading this book and using it my horse is now sound. this is a great book.



3. This book is more than a little difficult to read and understand, at times. However, making the effort is worth it, because it explains the background reasons for so many problems owners have with their horses. Whatever your horseriding background, learning to spot and rectify a horse's natural crookedness will improve his athleticism, obedience and working life. Scattered throughout the book are lunging and ridden exercises which will help to achieve that goal.
   
   Especially valuable in the book is a description of crookedness based on a description of the horse's "dominant leg", which I found much easier to get a grip on than standard terms such as "right-bend horse", "hollow left", etc, which can occasionally mean a different thing depending on who is using them!



4. This book took 85 pages to tell you over and over that horses are crooked and need to be straightened. Then when you FINALLY get to the part that's supposed to tell you how, they say that every horse is different so they can't really tell you how! It never delivers on actually telling you what to try. The only two tips I gleened were "tip his head to the inside" and "poke his shoulder until it moves out". The photos were not helpful either. Clinton Anderson says the same thing in his groundwork videos, but actually shows you what to do. I ride dressage and read extensively, and this book seems nothing more than a promotional effort for the authors' stables in Germany. Save money and buy something else!



5. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what was wrong with my horse. The best lameness vets just said it was a neurological problem and there was nothing I could do. No one could explain why my horse was doing what he was doing or what it was I was feeling. This book described my horse exactly from being left or right sided, to dragging his rear toes. I only wish they would have gone into more detail how to work with your horse on your own since I can't travel to Germany. Before you give up on your horse you have to read this book. I had my horses teeth done at an equine dental school and that was a big part of his problem causing neck pain. Best money I've spent on a book in a long time.

3 comments about The New Basic Training of the Young Horse: From the Education of the Young Foal to the First Competition.

1. I was disappointed with Klimke's basic training book. While it was interesting to read about their comprehensive training program for young dressage horses that includes eventing, the material was not specific enough to learn how to do any thing. The book covered way to much material in a general way and addressed too many audiences. So it did not really appeal to me. The books is very well designed with great pictures and format, but the text wonders. If you want to learn new techniques don't buy it. If you like to read general horse books with great pictures, it is worth buying.



2. I am a huge fan of both Ingrid and her father, however I was a bit disappointed in their book. They seem to talk about general things "you want this and not this", but don't tell you how to do "this" and not teach "this". If I knew how to do it I supposed I'd already know it was correct. I had hoped it was more specific for we riders who have not atttained FEI status. I would like to have seen more step by step on some of the big issues like ground control and how to have masterful hands. Some movements are explained, but not all.
   It was interesting to read what they think is correct and how they manage and treat their horses. I'm not sure that this should be in every dressage trainer's library. Some of the other books by other master riders are much more helpful.



3. I've been riding all my life, but wanted to understand some basic philosophies of getting a young jumper started. I found this book to be very helpful in laying that foundation. If you've never owned/ridden before, then you may want to seek some personalized attention from an experience horseperson. But if you're a good rider already, you'll enjoy this book.

5 comments about Common Sense Dressage: An Illustrated Guide.

1. I love this book and it's no non-sense common sense approach to training dressage horses. This book starts out teaching the basics from the ground up. This book is a must for any rider, and not just the dressage rider, although I agree that some concepts are a tad too advanced for beginners. Common Sense Dressage will bring your overall riding skills to the next level.



2. Although the material was useful, I found the organization and presentation a bit confusing for the novice.



3. This book is an excellent one for any student of dressage. It might be a wee bit complicated for the absolute beginner to riding, but for most who have had some training it's appropriate. The book has a ton of excellent diagrams and illustrations, many showing the view from above so that the desired position of the horse is clearly shown. There are a number of exercises in each chapter which allow the rider to work on various elements on their own as well as with a trainer.

   Chapters include: The Horse - How it Functions; Lungeing; The Work in Hand; The Basic Work in All Three Gaits; Activating the Hindquarters; Competition; Special Exercises for Problems; Canter Work; Collection, Extension and In-Between; Piaffe; and Passage. There is also an index which allows you to refer to specific topics.

   All in all this is a valuable addition to the library of any equestrian interested in this branch of the discipline, and one I will be sharing with my trainer. Don't hesitate to buy it!




4. This is an excellent book for individuals with some basis in dressage as well as a basic understanding of horses and their movement. The many diagrams included with the text are clear, concise and explain how to apply leg, seat and rein aides correctly for most dressage movements. There is also a chapter explaining the timing of the rider's movements for transitions between gaits as well as information to help understand how to move with the horse at the various gaits, including sitting trot. Even with a regular trainer I find this book invaluable and have bought it for several friends as gifts. They also have appreciated the detailed yet simple to understand descriptions of the movements. I especially like the multiple drills that are offered with each movement to help learn the proper execution of the exercises.



5. I found some of the information in this book to be very helpful. However, I did find her to be a bit snobbish. I also ride and train in Vienna, Austria, but I do not feel that makes me any better than any other rider in the world. It also does not give Ms. O'Connor the right to tell people to use words like "brav" when working with a horse (especially if they don't know what it means). What is important is that people are comfortable and speak with words and in tones that are comfortable for them.

4 comments about Beating muscle injuries for horses: [25 common muscular problems, their cause, correction, prevention].

1. As a three year old, my horse was kicked by another horse. Her right foreleg was unusable and she was practically paralized. We decided to put her down, but she wanted to live, so a therapist gave her laser treatment. She is still with us, now almost 11 years old. Two years ago she developed severe back problems, had a shortened stride and went lame. Last year she could almost not walk anymore and has severe muscle problems. Several therapists tried to help her, most of them could not not. Shiatsu helped her a little, but the only one that showed spectacular progress after just one treatment was a therapist practising the Jack Meagher method. I wanted to know more about the method, so I bought the book. It is great!



2. Wonderful Teacher! Much to be learned using the simple rules and calculations that Jack explains in depth. Only downer is the fact that the book is only available as a combed binder issue and not a hardcover bound publication.



3. This is a fabulous book that every horse owner should have. It has saved me hundreds of $$$ in chiropractic and massage therapy bills. I have recommended it to owners, instructors, and trainers complaining about horse performance issues. In every case the book helped.



4. I read this book over 15 years ago. I wanted to see if I could get another copy as mine was stolen (it was so good). Helped me a lot with horses. As I heard that Jack Meagher died last week, I thought I would look for it. I think I only paid $15 for my paperback copy years ago and would not suggest anyone pay $70 for this book but it was very good. The price is so high I think because of recent demand due to the author's death. I will keep looking rather than purchase a copy here.